More User Reviews:

Pours a deep brown almost black with some ruby highlights with a creamy-like off -white head,aromas of chocolate xhip cookie dough and dark roast coffee really made me want to tear into this offering.Flavors as expected were malt dominated some dark roast coffee and bittersweet chocolate along with some raisin.Deeply flavorful and a nice creamy mouthfeel makes this porter one of the better I have had in quite awhile,I think my first Swedish beer that I have had.

Appearance  Very dark in color with a nice, tanned head that showed decent retention and left a little lacing.

Smell  This aroma is nice. Theres some good coffee and chocolate notes to go along with the classic roasted malts. I can also pick up small traces of cocoa, anise, molasses, and some kind of sugar (maybe pure cane).

Taste  The smaller notes from the nose came out bigger at the taste. The chocolate and anise were prominent, but the molasses all but disappeared. This is not a super-dark porter; its more of a lighter one in the classic sense.

Mouthfeel  This was medium-bodied. I thought the mouthfeel was the weak point of the porter. The flavors were kind of clumsy and could maybe benefit from cellaring.

Drinkability  This went great with my Stoned Bratwurst and sauerkraut.

Comments  I had the 2001 vintage. Even though it is going on three years old I would recommend cellaring this for another three. Im not a big cellaring fan but I think the flavors here just need some more time to get to know each other.

S: Smooth malts, rye bread, caramel and notes of vinous fruits. A hint of coffee. The taste is somewhat mild and restrained, but rather good.

T: The taste is mostly sweet with bready malts to the fore. Notes of vinous fruits, wood and a hint of coffee. Faint note of chocolate. The finish is rather short with a minimal bitterness, mineral notes, wood and malty sweetness.

M: Medium body. The carbonation is of the sort you most often find in mass produced fizzy lagers.

D: This is a good beer, but no more. I like the vinous and fruity character it showcases. But it's kind of restrained, both in terms of aromas and flavors, and it lacks complexity, and in my opinion, its reputation as one of the best porters in the world is greatly exaggerated. Perhaps it once was, but the way the brewery has treated this classic beer during the last decade is embarrassing.

Poured just like a Coke, except nearly opaque black. The head formed just as one on a Coke would and even elicited the same color. I find the smell weak overall and lacks that typical slightly toasted aroma. The smell that is there is slightly sweet from the malts with some slight chocolate hints . The taste is typical of porters that dont try to imitate a stout. Coffee is picked up predominately and is balanced well with a non-toasted malt flavor. Right after draining this one from my mouth there is a sharp,crisp sensation. The mouthfeel is what makes this beer for me. It is extremely creamy and coats the mouth well. I could see myself having a couple of these if they werent 5 dollars a 16.9oz bottle.

Overall this is a decent beer. There are other porters out there which are stronger in flavor. If they could kick the flavor up a bit and keep the mouthfeel the same then I think I would like this one even more. Is it worth the price tag? It depends

Thank you to Chris at Ebenezer's Pub for getting me to try this. I probably never would have had this without his recommendation. It was a nice dark black with a thick coffee-colored head. A coffee, chocolate aroma. The taste only enhanced what I smelled, and this had to have been the smoothest porter I've ever tried. Indescribable, all those great dark tastes running around in my mouth. You gotta try this beer!

Appearance: Deep, dark brown/ruby red. Head pours weak at first with large bubbles, then it creates a 1/4" cream lace under the same. It dissipates to a patchy, creamy off-white lace. A gentle swirl will induce a more creamy head.

Smell: One of the best aromas that I have ever come across. Big malt aromas of dark fruits and sweet raw malts, touch of caramel malt, black liquorice, oak and vanilla. Esters and oxidation are noted. Very rich and complex nose.

Taste: Sweet malt profile of caramel (faint diacetyl/butter flavours), grape-like flavours, light molasses and chocolate. No real "roasted" type flavours, which makes it a very traditional Porter, however you can just pick up a faint smoked malt flavour. Body is medium to full, mouthfeel is a bit chewy and luscious. Towards the end you can taste some oxidation and cherry/oak notes, a by-product of its age. Finishes slighty dry and bready, with notes of grain husk and chocolate residuals.

Notes: This vintage has probably reached its peak, though I'd be interested in tasting it again in a few years. It's an amazing example of the style and ripe for the tasting. I implore everyone to try this magnificent Swedish beer.

Presentation: Short 8.82 oz brown bottle with the vintage date of 1998 on the label.

Appearance: Thin lace though it has neatly textured tiny bubbles that crop up every time you take a sip. Close to jet black, only holding it up to the light will it produce some ruby hues.

Smell: Big sugary molasses aroma with a figgy back, dark caramel all over though chocolaty enough to give off a suggestion of brownies. Faint acidity in the nose also.

Taste: Smooth low level of carbonation with a slick mouth feel and solid full to medium body. Roasted flavours are intense but simple with a bite of charcoal and sweetness around all. Flavours of mild espresso, molasses and dark chocolate engulf the taste buds. Vague signs of age show with a touch of wet paper, this seems to add more good than harm and enhances the rich roasted flavours. From the charcoal flavours are trace woody and vanilla notes as well as a deep earthiness. Vague and lost acidic twang barely makes a dent in the threshold of flavour. Fruitiness is hidden for the most part but glimpses of burnt raisins and prune come to mind. Stays sweet even through the finish and there the alcohol is fairly noticed.

Notes: After four years it has held up very well with little signs of damage. Oxidation is minimal and the acidic twang is far out of reach to be a nuance. Makes you wonder what another year or more will bring to this brew.
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1997: Nearly jet black with a very thin bubbly lace that keeps on coming back after each sip. Smell of dark bread similar to pumpernickel, good amount of sweetness in the nose to soften the roasted aroma. Mild charcoal with woody and bready flavours that want to come in at the same time, very low carbonation that lets the creaminess flow first then a quick yet small smoothness rolls in. Vague acidic twang that is very passive, malt flavours pass back and forth between roasted and bready. Hops are but a dream and seem to be the most faded trait this brew has, thankfully the roasted grain picks up a little of the slack. Hard to tell this brew is on it fifth year, malt is still very fresh on the palate.

2001 vintage with "best before 2010" on label. Pours an opaque, almost pitch black with a tan head that quickly drops into patchy and collar lacing. Aroma of burnt coffee, smoke, licorice, and a hint of chocolate. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, creamy, and has a mild peppery bite. Taste is similar to the nose, with burnt coffee, smokiness, licorice, and spicy, dry, bittering hops. Very drinkable, and a nice Porter, but nothing outstanding at this stage. I was surprised by the "best before" date being a several years down the road. This one will probably be much better in a couple of years.

Porters have made a strong comback in my book, following the disappointment that was the Polygamy Porter that kept me away for so long. This one was stellar.

Appearance: Poured a near pitch-black in color. Hold it up to the light and nothing passes through it (cue the Dark Knight from "MP and the Quest for the Holy Grail: "None shall pass!"). Creamy smooth and thick layer of toffee-colored head stands upon the body of the beer. There's a fair amount of spotty lace that sticks to the glass as I consumed this.

Smell: In a word...lovely. Chocolate, caramel latte' from Starbucks, raisins.

Taste: Very toffee-like. Heath bar flavor with some smoky flavor showing up at the end. Some dark fruit notes and fresh espresso coffee as well. Milk-chocolate flavor brings a close to this flavorful porter.

I bought this as a single at Union Jack's on the Manatawny. I drank it in a goblet. This is the 2004 version. It comes in a 16.9 oz. bottle.

Pours an absolutely pitch black with active carbonation visible on the sides of the glass. A nice, two fingered head of beige colored foam forms on top, drops to a good coating and a ring, with very nice lacing.

Aroma is mostly chocolate, with a slight coffee background.
There is also some kind of chalky, metallic smell in there. I think I can detect licorice as well. The metallic aroma becomes a little too much as it warms.

First flavor is sweet chocolate, with a hint of coffee. This tastes much better than it smells. I actually started holding my breath as I sipped. Pretty darn clean for a two year old, small alcohol beer. Licorice is in there, I think, and fruit flavors like very dark rum soaked cherries. Aftertaste is dark, sweet, and mellow.

Mouthfeel is fairly smooth and creamy, with a high level of residual sweetness. Pretty full bodied. Carbonation is low to medium. Finish is smooth and luscious.

If it wasn't for the smell, this would be outstanding. I honestly held my breath for every sip, trying not to ruin the taste. The flavor is really good. And actually, after 15 minutes or so, the smell went away. One I'd have again. I'd just open it and let it breathe for a while.

A- This beer pours a dense black body with no sign of carbonation or light getting through. There is a thick bubbly light tan head that last for a good bit.

S- The aroma of cream and dark roasted malt is well blended with some Munich malt qualities about it.

T- The soft black malt has a coffee hint without the bitterness and a smooth mellow tang to it. There is a mineral water taste to it as the beer warms but it is pleasant. The finish has a touch of roasted malt with a faint smoke quality to it.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a slightly slippery texture and no alcohol heat noticed.

O- The well-blended flavors of dark malt are smooth and very easy to drink but still have some nice depth. There were some grain and pot caramel qualities that are hard to describe in there. It is a great "recreation" of a historic beer and a lovely session beer.